St. Petersburg, Florida Building Permit Cost Calculator

Building permit fees are calculated from the valuation of the proposed work. For new construction the valuation is taken from the most recently published International Code Council Building Valuation Data applied with a regional construction cost adjustment factor of .85, unless the applicant submits a cost breakdown (actual contract cost for labor and materials) that the Planning and Development Services department accepts; alterations and tenant buildouts use 50% of that calculation. The resulting valuation is then read against the tiers below. Plan review is billed separately, and a property owner surcharge applies to each permit issued to a property owner for work costing more than $2,000. Codified at City Code Ch. 12 Sec. 12-6(6); Code current through Ordinance No. 632-H, adopted April 2, 2026 (Supp. No. 54). The 25% fee reduction written into this subsection applied only from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2024 and has expired.

St. Petersburg publishes no deck-specific permit fee. Decks, platforms, patios, walks and similar flat work serving a single-family residence or duplex on a residentially zoned lot are on the Building Official's exempted permit list when the work does not support a structure, the finished walking surface is not more than 12 inches above grade at any point, and it is not over a basement or story below - a certificate may still be required. A deck outside that exemption is permitted as ordinary construction and charged the valuation-based building permit fee, with plan review billed separately and a property owner surcharge on owner-pulled permits over $2,000. Codified at City Code Ch. 12 Sec. 12-6(6); Code current through Ordinance No. 632-H, adopted April 2, 2026. The 25% reduction in this subsection expired June 30, 2024.

Electrical work is charged either from the Flat Fee Permits list for common service and low-voltage work, or, where no flat fee is listed, from the general valuation-based permit fee - the code states that permit fees are based on the total construction value of all permits applied for (electrical, mechanical, plumbing, etc.). A property owner surcharge applies to each permit issued to a property owner for work costing more than $2,000, and Florida state surcharges are added. Codified at City Code Ch. 12 Sec. 12-6(6); Code current through Ordinance No. 632-H, adopted April 2, 2026. The 25% reduction in this subsection expired June 30, 2024.

Masonry walls and fences are charged a flat fee permit tiered by length. On single-family residential property, wood, chain link, plastic and wrought iron fences installed per Land Development Regulations Sec. 16.40.040 are on the Building Official's exempted permit list and need no building permit; where such a fence does require a permit it is charged the valuation-based building permit fee, and the code directs that the valuation of fences and walls be the actual contract cost including all labor and materials, or an estimated cost established by the Planning and Development Services department based on what the work typically costs. Codified at City Code Ch. 12 Sec. 12-6(6); Code current through Ordinance No. 632-H, adopted April 2, 2026. The 25% reduction in this subsection expired June 30, 2024.

Reroofing is charged as a flat fee permit, tiered by the number of squares of roofing, where a square equals 100 square feet.

Sheds are charged a single flat fee permit regardless of size. Two shed exemptions apply: prefabricated portable sheds under 100 square feet of exterior size not used as a residence or living quarters, and one-story detached tool or storage sheds, playhouses and similar utility buildings on a residentially zoned lot with less than 100 square feet of gross roof area and less than 10 feet to the ridge above average finish grade, provided the roof carries no live load. Separate electrical, plumbing, mechanical or gas permits are still required for any utilities installed within or upon a shed. Codified at City Code Ch. 12 Sec. 12-6(6); Code current through Ordinance No. 632-H, adopted April 2, 2026. The 25% reduction in this subsection expired June 30, 2024.

A hot water heater changeout on single-family and duplex residential property in St. Petersburg is charged as a Service Permit. The Service Permits row of the fee schedule prices the whole block at one flat rate - every listed configuration of air conditioning unit changeout and hot water heater changeout, tank and tankless, with or without electric and/or gas, carries the same charge. A solar water heater is priced separately as a flat fee permit, and plumbing work with no required plan review and one inspection that is not covered by a service or flat fee permit is charged at the Other - Plumbing rate. A property owner surcharge is added to each permit issued to a property owner for work costing more than $2,000. Codified at City Code Ch. 12 Sec. 12-6(6); Code current through Ordinance No. 632-H, adopted April 2, 2026 (Supp. No. 54); Sec. 12-6 last amended by Ord. No. 624-H, adopted December 4, 2025.